New leader of Moto2 in Catalunya? Oliveira chasing Bagnaia

After the first triumph of the year of Miguel Oliveira, the World Championship of Moto2 heads to Catalunya with the fight going crazy. The portuguese follows in second only to 13 points off the leadership occupied by Francesco Bagnaia, reason why he could even be new leader after the round of Barcelona.

One of the favorites for this seventh event of 2018 is Álex Márquez. The Marc VDS rider is in fourth place and returns to the Grand Prix which earned him his second triumph in the middle class last year – a dominating success. In Moto3 he also got a win in Barcelona in a race he dominated in 2014.

Driven by Mugello’s triumph, Oliveira is looking for another podium on a circuit where he only finished in the top three on one occasion – he was last year third. The portuguese of Red Bull KTM Ajo is with his eyes set on the command of the championship, occupied by Bagnaia, since it follows only 13 points – if Oliveira finishes on the podium and the italian below the fourth place, there is a leader change. Then, Bagnaia (Sky Racing Team VR46) is bound to make his best result in Catalonia, where he was never beyond tenth (in the Moto3 race of 2014).

Also at the top of the championship is another italian, Lorenzo Baldassarri. The Pons HP40 rider is at this time the main pursuer of Bagnaia and Oliveira, finishing on the podium for the third time in 2018 in the previous round. Marc VDS’s Joan Mir will try to make his third consecutive top three at home, while Mattia Pasini (Italtrans) comes from two blank rounds that made him a bit behind in the fight for the top places in the championship. He was even overtaken by Xavi Vierge (Dynavolt Intact GP), who compete at home will try to launch the bid for the second podium of the year.

Although Álex Márquez defends the 2017 triumph in Barcelona, ​​candidates to the first place for the Catalunya GP of Moto2 aren’t lacking. The answer begin to be given on the track on Friday with the first two practice sessions, while on Sunday the program ends with the race starting at 12h20 (local time).